Knights and ladies, all together at Brescia Castle!

We’re in Brescia, a beautiful town rich in history that few people really know but that Cocco on the road decided to tell you. The town in which we’ve been growing hosts us in these holidays, and we’re glad to meet up friends, our family, but also to help you better know this town.

Old Duomo

Pizza Loggia

Brescia (dialectilac Brasa, Brèssa o Brèha) is an Italian town of 196,468 inhabitants located in Lombardy. Founded over 3200 years ago below the Alps, Brescia was the capital of Cenoman and later it became a Roman colony under the name of Brixia. For about 400 years, from the first half of the fifteenth century until the late eighteenth century, it was part of the Venetian Republic. It became Austrian 1815-1866, then getting to the Kingdom of Italy.
Brescia is also named the “Lioness of Italy” because of the ten days in the Austrian resistance during the Italian Risorgimento (from 23rd of March to 1st of April 1849).

In the history of this city we find a fortress dating back to the Middle Ages, which stands on Cidneo hill high above the historic center: we are talking about the Castle of Brescia.

Brescia Center

Capitolium Museum

Getting here is easy, both on foot and by car. The road coasts the hill and in the nature of this place we can breathe fresh air; in fact, this is one of the “green lungs” the city offers. The uphill path is not difficult to cross on foot, and is recommended if you do not want to miss the experience to walk over the cobbles characterizing the ancient alleys.

The Castle has been the scene of the famous Ten Days of Brescia, and today it hides narrow streets that lead to secret places, and finally to a breathtaking view of the entire town.

Inside are the museums open to the public, enclosing a part of the history of this city.
“Luigi Marzoli” Museum of Arms inaugurated in 1988 on the setting up of Carlo Scarpa, it’s home of a rich display of ancient weapons and armor. A tradition of Brescia that of the construction of weapons, presented here as evidence of past wars to learn about the history of Italy. By armor and horse riders until you get to swords and cannons that once defended the walls of this city and beyond. Ten exhibition rooms that help you trace the art of the birth of these weapons, with attention to their appearance, such as helmets and breastplates. Pacifist like us take this ancient history to enrich our knowledge through these objects that testify the events of past times.

And then we go to the Risorgimento Museum opened in October 2005 in the top of the Grande Miglio.
Here it’s a beautiful display of memorabilia, portraits, prints that make you trace the history of the Ten Days, Independence up to the Unity of Italy, going over historical facts and wars with the protagonists of these events as Napoleon III, Cavour, Vittorio Emanuele II and Garibaldi.

Hours and prices the Museum of Arms Luigi Mazola and the Museum of Risorgimento:
From the 1st October to the 15th June
Thursday and Friday 9 am – 4 pm
Saturday and Sunday 10 am – 5 pm
From the 16th June to the 30th September
Friday, Saturday, Sunday 11 am – 7 pm
Adult € 4,00
Reduced € 3,00 (till 18 years old; over 65 years old; student)

We continue the path to the Castle and we encounter a characteristic steam engine, positioned at the center of the square above the bastion of San Faustino, symbol of the early ‘900, when it ran through the middle of the route from Brescia to Edolo (Brescia province).

We stop in the square and we get lost in the breathtaking view of the city below, also to admire the guns that had been dangerous weapons while now simply an artistic piece that attracts children.

A nice walk between the nature and the story recommended to all. The area is served both with toilets and bars and restaurants.